![\"Author](\"https:\/\/media.innovationorigins.com\/2022\/04\/h5IpQxxj-sExSsnKS-dhjX2c32-EEFzYDAi-MauroMereu.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>\nWhy we write about this topic:<\/summary>\n\nWhen buying groceries nowadays, you stumble across many bottles, containers, or tubs with a stamp saying, \u201cMade with recycled plastics.\u201d Conversely, according to a report<\/a> by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD),<\/a> only 9 percent of plastic is recycled worldwide. How many of those claims are mere greenwashing? It is now possible to know more, after an Italian company launched a system to track and certify the quality of recycled plastics.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nPlasticFinder<\/a> \u2013 an international marketplace for plastics \u2013 has introduced a blockchain-based system to store all the information about recycled plastic goods. Certified Recycled Plastic<\/a> (CRP) offers the platform\u2019s users a way to declare recycled plastics under the European Union\u2019s regulations. For buyers and sellers, it\u2019s a win-win situation, as whoever buys can trust the quality, and those who sell can declare quality following the highest EU standards. Furthermore, after every purchase on the website, buyers get a QR code where all the information about that product can be accessed.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nFrom thousands of successful transactions on their website, the Italian company acquired solid know-how in plastics commerce. Initially, CRP was conceived as a back-end tool to the marketplace to check the quality of goods. \u201cThe innovative idea lies in transcribing all the products\u2019 information in an immutable register to provide a statement of the goods \u2019quality. Once we realized that it worked and that it complied with the regulatory framework, we had the idea to it as an additional service to the users of our platform,\u201d says Riccardo Parrini, CEO of PlasticFinder.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n![\"Riccardo](\"https:\/\/media.innovationorigins.com\/2022\/09\/PlasticFinder-CEO-Riccardo-Parrini-2-scaled.jpg\")
\u00a9 PlasticFinder<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\nRiccardo Parrini<\/h3>\nCEO of PlasticFinder <\/h4>\n
Graduated in law, he has a background as a tech start-up founder. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Blockchain for recycled plastic <\/h2>\n
\u201cIn our years of experience, we noticed that providing companies a space to trade plastic wasn\u2019t the only service needed. We realized that there was no way to give customers certainty that they were actually buying recycled plastic,\u201d Parrini adds. Improving security and trust were some of the reasons that motivated the company to use blockchain technology.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a nutshell, a blockchain is a digital ledger. It consists of a list of records \u2013 called blocks \u2013 each one linked to the previous one with a so-called cryptographic hash<\/em>. This creates a chain. Additionally, blockchain transactions can\u2019t be reversed, meaning that the data in any given block can\u2019t be altered. This system allows the storage of information in a secure way, making it always available for reference. PlasticFinder found that it was the safest way to protect buyers and sellers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nLegal standards <\/h2>\n
To define plastics as recycled, the material must meet several standards. These include the material source and the recycled material amount. With regard to this, Italy has one of the most advanced regulations; the European Union itself took inspiration from it. Declaring that a batch of plastic is recycled is done via an International Standard, the so-called UNI14021<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\nOn the Certified Recycled Plastic platform, the plastic converter fills out a form with the material\u2019s origin and history. \u201cProducers can, through the service, declare the amount of recycled material used,\u201d Parrini goes on to explain. \u201cOn the other hand, whoever buys has the right to check if the material is recycled. CRP doesn\u2019t certify by itself, but is preparation for certifying a product. In other words, our system can be used for transcribing data, helping sellers with authority checks, too.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Your weekly innovation overview
\nEvery sunday the best articles of the week in your inbox.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n\n![\"edible](\"https:\/\/media.innovationorigins.com\/2022\/09\/Cup-Picture-2-1-scaled.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThanks to Edibles, it\u2019s the end of plastic and paper drinking cups<\/p>\n
Until recently, millions of disposable cups were still being used in the Netherlands, until a ban on these plastic cups came into effect in July 2021. Three ambitious students have found an alternative to this: edible cups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Recycled goods or waste? <\/h2>\n
Dealing with waste and production byproducts can be very tricky. Not fulfilling all the criteria needed by law to fall into the desired category moves the material to another one. Details make a difference and can cost companies money and time.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
PlasticFinder started as and remains a marketplace to help companies with these tasks. Firms can purchase and sell recycled plastics, industrial by-products, slow-moving inventory, and virgin plastics. It doesn\u2019t differ that much from other online shopping platforms. Sellers post listings and buyers can browse through the items within the website to find what they\u2019re looking for. In addition to the steps involved in an online purchase, after PlasticFinder\u2019s quality checks, the buyer can refuse the product if it does not adhere to the standards. The website also works as a guarantee for the transaction and binds the two parties through a smart contract.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When buying groceries nowadays, you stumble across many bottles, containers, or tubs with a stamp saying, \u201cMade with recycled plastics.\u201d Conversely, according to a report<\/a> by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD),<\/a> only 9 percent of plastic is recycled worldwide. How many of those claims are mere greenwashing? It is now possible to know more, after an Italian company launched a system to track and certify the quality of recycled plastics.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n PlasticFinder<\/a> \u2013 an international marketplace for plastics \u2013 has introduced a blockchain-based system to store all the information about recycled plastic goods. Certified Recycled Plastic<\/a> (CRP) offers the platform\u2019s users a way to declare recycled plastics under the European Union\u2019s regulations. For buyers and sellers, it\u2019s a win-win situation, as whoever buys can trust the quality, and those who sell can declare quality following the highest EU standards. Furthermore, after every purchase on the website, buyers get a QR code where all the information about that product can be accessed.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n From thousands of successful transactions on their website, the Italian company acquired solid know-how in plastics commerce. Initially, CRP was conceived as a back-end tool to the marketplace to check the quality of goods. \u201cThe innovative idea lies in transcribing all the products\u2019 information in an immutable register to provide a statement of the goods \u2019quality. Once we realized that it worked and that it complied with the regulatory framework, we had the idea to it as an additional service to the users of our platform,\u201d says Riccardo Parrini, CEO of PlasticFinder.\u00a0<\/p>\n Graduated in law, he has a background as a tech start-up founder. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIn our years of experience, we noticed that providing companies a space to trade plastic wasn\u2019t the only service needed. We realized that there was no way to give customers certainty that they were actually buying recycled plastic,\u201d Parrini adds. Improving security and trust were some of the reasons that motivated the company to use blockchain technology.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n In a nutshell, a blockchain is a digital ledger. It consists of a list of records \u2013 called blocks \u2013 each one linked to the previous one with a so-called cryptographic hash<\/em>. This creates a chain. Additionally, blockchain transactions can\u2019t be reversed, meaning that the data in any given block can\u2019t be altered. This system allows the storage of information in a secure way, making it always available for reference. PlasticFinder found that it was the safest way to protect buyers and sellers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n To define plastics as recycled, the material must meet several standards. These include the material source and the recycled material amount. With regard to this, Italy has one of the most advanced regulations; the European Union itself took inspiration from it. Declaring that a batch of plastic is recycled is done via an International Standard, the so-called UNI14021<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n On the Certified Recycled Plastic platform, the plastic converter fills out a form with the material\u2019s origin and history. \u201cProducers can, through the service, declare the amount of recycled material used,\u201d Parrini goes on to explain. \u201cOn the other hand, whoever buys has the right to check if the material is recycled. CRP doesn\u2019t certify by itself, but is preparation for certifying a product. In other words, our system can be used for transcribing data, helping sellers with authority checks, too.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Your weekly innovation overview Thanks to Edibles, it\u2019s the end of plastic and paper drinking cups<\/p>\n Until recently, millions of disposable cups were still being used in the Netherlands, until a ban on these plastic cups came into effect in July 2021. Three ambitious students have found an alternative to this: edible cups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Dealing with waste and production byproducts can be very tricky. Not fulfilling all the criteria needed by law to fall into the desired category moves the material to another one. Details make a difference and can cost companies money and time.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n PlasticFinder started as and remains a marketplace to help companies with these tasks. Firms can purchase and sell recycled plastics, industrial by-products, slow-moving inventory, and virgin plastics. It doesn\u2019t differ that much from other online shopping platforms. Sellers post listings and buyers can browse through the items within the website to find what they\u2019re looking for. In addition to the steps involved in an online purchase, after PlasticFinder\u2019s quality checks, the buyer can refuse the product if it does not adhere to the standards. The website also works as a guarantee for the transaction and binds the two parties through a smart contract.\u00a0<\/p>\nRiccardo Parrini<\/h3>\n
CEO of PlasticFinder <\/h4>\n
Blockchain for recycled plastic <\/h2>\n
Legal standards <\/h2>\n
Subscribe to our Newsletter!<\/h4>\n
\nEvery sunday the best articles of the week in your inbox.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRecycled goods or waste? <\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/media.innovationorigins.com\/2022\/09\/MQE6BPuQ.jpeg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"blockchain](\"https:\/\/media.innovationorigins.com\/2022\/09\/ec745f534f90406eb66406f35dc77457-0001-1004x569.png\")